How To Install RdRand on Rocky Linux 8

In this tutorial we learn how to install RdRand on Rocky Linux 8. RdRand is Library for generating random numbers using the RdRand instruction on Intel CPUs

Introduction

In this tutorial we learn how to install RdRand on Rocky Linux 8.

What is RdRand

RdRand is an instruction for returning random numbers from an Intel on-chip hardware random number generator.RdRand is available in Ivy Bridge and later processors. It uses cascade construction, combining a HW RNG operating at 3Gbps with CSPRNG with all components sealed on CPU. The entropy source is a meta-stable circuit, with unpredictable behavior based on thermal noise. The entropy is fed into a 3 Online statistical tests are performed at this stage and only high quality random data are used as the seed for cryptograhically secure SP800-90 AES-CTR DRBG compliant PRNG. This generator is producing maximum of 512 128-bit AES blocks before it’s reseeded. According to documentation the 512 blocks is a upper limit for reseed, in practice it reseeds much more frequently.

We can use yum or dnf to install RdRand on Rocky Linux 8. In this tutorial we discuss both methods but you only need to choose one of method to install RdRand.

Install RdRand on Rocky Linux 8 Using dnf

Update yum database with dnf using the following command.

sudo dnf makecache --refresh

After updating yum database, We can install RdRand using dnf by running the following command:

sudo dnf -y install RdRand

Install RdRand on Rocky Linux 8 Using yum

Update yum database with yum using the following command.

sudo yum makecache --refresh

After updating yum database, We can install RdRand using yum by running the following command:

sudo yum -y install RdRand

How To Uninstall RdRand on Rocky Linux 8

To uninstall only the RdRand package we can use the following command:

sudo dnf remove RdRand

RdRand Package Contents on Rocky Linux 8

/usr/bin/rdrand-gen
/usr/lib/.build-id
/usr/lib/.build-id/0e
/usr/lib/.build-id/0e/ffbbc02864014c3b7479e9a1abce1b2ec71c1d
/usr/lib/.build-id/5b
/usr/lib/.build-id/5b/54df508c585270fa53f2a1fed4f12ab7361890
/usr/lib64/librdrand.so.1
/usr/lib64/librdrand.so.1.0.2
/usr/share/doc/RdRand
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/COPYING
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/ChangeLog
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/NEWS
/usr/share/doc/RdRand/README
/usr/share/man/man7/rdrand-gen.7.gz

References

Summary

In this tutorial we learn how to install RdRand on Rocky Linux 8 using yum and dnf.